Busy seems to be the buzzword in our contemporary society, describing the lives of people from various walks of life. No matter where we are or what our lives may consist of, our world seems to demand more of our internal and external resources. Yet, when those assets are not sufficiently replenished, we become severely challenged and overburdened by the weight of anxiety and a life that can feel unpredictable, sometimes unsafe, and often unsustainable.
In these situations, anxiety stirs, and we find ourselves over-explaining, overcommitted, and overextended. What was once full and overflowing is dangerously low, leaving us to subsist on yesteryear’s abundance, sometimes unaware of how we plummeted there and how our Father desires to meet us there.
Inarguably, our lives may be full. Many of us juggle commitments that keep our schedules brimming with activity on both weekdays and weekends. If we’re honest, we may notice the traces of anxiety showing itself in our minds and moods.
Increased agitation, irritability, worry, and mental and emotional fatigue will tell on the imbalanced state of our lives, sending us over the edge of what we feel we can reasonably manage. This invariably seeps into our comprehensive well-being, affecting not only our physical bodies, but also our mental and emotional states, interpersonal relationships, and other areas. This leaves us with anxiety that sends us overboard.
Over-explaining
Anxiety presents in our lives in subtle ways that inform how we approach our daily activities. We may not even realize how it has infiltrated through the colloquial phrases that we use, dismissing the value of rest.
Anxiety’s reach isn’t personal, but the culture of “busy” has elevated our sense of worth and importance, yet not always with what truly matters to us. It causes us to over-explain, often preoccupied with what other people deduce about us instead of standing confidently in what we know is true. As a result, we often share more information than necessary, apologizing for our priorities with people and in places where we offer time and talent.
Overcommitting
Anxiety’s hold can result in over-committing ourselves to pursuits and projects that exceed our capacity and resources. We compromise valued assets, overspending attention, time, or finance where we cannot reasonably sustain verbal commitment. We may not even realize that these represent currency that invariably re-route our focus from what’s essential to what is trivial in life’s broader landscape.
What we exchange leaves us with insufficient resources, dismantling our commitment to fulfilling responsibilities with the people and places that matter most. The lack of healthy boundaries comes at a high cost, demanding more than what we can reasonably afford to maintain as our closest connections and most valued commitments often absorb the expense.
Overextending
Someone will pay somewhere along the way. We don’t have to wonder about the mystery of whom, but rather realize we are the ones who often set ourselves up to suffer a deficit of stamina and strength. When we lead our lives with love, that is, regard for God, ourselves, and others, we can initiate the kind of communication that honors our relationships enough to carve boundaries.
Placing healthy boundaries around our time, attention, or even finances divert our energy from what is outside of our domain. Instead, narrowing our focus causes those areas of life to overflow with blessings.
When we overextend our resources beyond what we have budgeted or scheduled for our life priorities, we don’t have quality resources to funnel and invest in what God wants to bring into our world next. Neither do we have the bandwidth to support what He has entrusted us to steward in the present.
In considering this, we don’t have to remain enslaved by anxiety, consistently living life over the edge, over-explaining, over-committed, and overextended. That doesn’t mean that we won’t encounter uncomfortable feelings of guilt or initiate communication that feels awkward as boundaries are redrawn.
As we begin putting better habits into practice, we will gain balance that will shift us from feeling overwhelmed by anxiety and anchor us in wholeness, confidence, and enhanced stability.
Next steps for overcoming anxiety
The Holy Spirit guarantees grace and guidance to align with God’s best for your natural and spiritual life. In and through it all, spiritual discernment and wisdom are required to navigate what seems nebulous. The Wonderful Counselor will teach, even through trained professionals, to overcome the anxiety that fuels over-explaining, over-committing, and overextending.
Browse our counselor directory and schedule an appointment with a counselor at Santa Clarita Christian Counseling to garner support with cultivating steadiness and sustainability for all the Father desires to multiply through your life.
